Parent family honored by potato industry
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
LEGISLATIVE SENTIMENT — Rep. Bernard Ayotte (R-Caswell), left, presents a legislative sentiment to Rudy Parent at the annual Industry Dinner, held July 20 in Fort Fairfield. Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Allagash), center, was also part of the presentation. The Parent family of Hamlin was recognized as this year’s Maine Potato Board Farm Family of the Year.
By Kevin Sjoberg
FORT FAIRFIELD – Rudy Parent and his family, of Hamlin, were lauded July 20 as this year’s Farm Family of the Year during the Maine Potato Board’s annual Industry Dinner.
“I just want to thank the Maine Potato Board for this great honor,” Parent said. “We’re very proud of it. I want to thank my parents from the beginning as they are the ones that started to help me out. I thank my family for standing by me all these years and everybody that’s here.”
As part of the awards ceremony, Tim Hobbs, who serves as director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board, presented the Parents with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on behalf of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) and Rep. Bernard Ayotte (R-Caswell) teamed up to present a legislative sentiment to the Parents, with Jackson also giving them hats commemorating the honor.
“It was an excellent choice choosing Rudy and Dinah Parent for the Farm Family of the Year,” Ayotte said, noting he also had 2010’s farm family, the Norman LaJoie family, from his district. “They are distinguished choices. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing five of the seven generations of the Parent family.
“They have also taken a special interest in the local town affairs. The Parent family, right up until the current generation, has always been exemplary in supporting our local church and community. I’m very proud and wish you continued success,” Ayotte added.
Mark Tarr, president of the Maine Potato Board, honored Rudy Parent with an engraved clock to conclude the presentations.
Rudy and Dinah Parent, their son Jamie and Rudy’s brother Bill farm 1,200 acres in the St. John Valley. Rudy Parent started farming right out of Van Buren High School in 1970 and purchased the farm from his father, Gerard, in 1986.
Rudy and Dinah Parent raised four children — Jamie, Nick, Heather and Michelle. All have grown up in some capacity on the farm.
The Parent family grows 600 acres of potatoes and 600 acres of grain. The potato crop is primarily for processing. Rudy was selected as a McCain Top Ten Grower in 2011.
He has been first selectman in Hamlin for 27 years and a member of the St. Joseph’s Parish Council for more than 25 years. He serves on the finance committee of the restructured parishes in his home region.
The Industry Dinner, held annually as part of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, featured a meal of steak, chicken, new potatoes and peas served up by members of the Fort Fairfield Lions Club. All nine Maine Potato Blossom pageant contestants introduced themselves along with last year’s Maine Potato queen, Kelsey Buck of Mapleton. Several politicians were also introduced and Gov. Paul LePage made a brief appearance and spoke prior to the dinner.
